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FC Dallas focus on depth with 2011 draft class

Admittedly, FC Dallas technical director Barry Gorman knew it was unlikely he would fill his club’s biggest need for a forward in Thursday's SuperDraft. However, he's satisfied with the depth the reigning Western Conference champions added with their three picks.

“We’re all pleased,” Gorman told MLSsoccer.com by phone. “We were looking to add some intelligent players and I think we’ve done that.”

In the first round, FCD took Stanford defender Bobby Warshaw 17th overall — the second straight year the club has taken a defensive player with their first pick. In the 2010 draft, the club took North Carolina product Zach Loyd fifth overall. He appeared in 24 games for FCD as a rookie, seeing time at both center and right back.

“I got a chance to see [Warshaw] play three times,” Gorman said. “We like the fact that he’s always looking for the ball. He’s composed. He’s one of those guys that other players like because he doesn’t hide in the game.”

During his time with the Cardinal, Warshaw, a three-time All-Pac 10 Conference performer, started out at forward. Then he switched to holding mid before playing center back his final two years. That versatility was a pretty strong selling point for his new club.

[inline_node:326555]“I think he fills a need,” Gorman said. “We could look at him as a center back. We could look at him also as a holding midfielder. He’s a tough kid.”

Warshaw is clearly excited about meeting his new teammates and kicking off his professional career.

“I’m so happy to come to Dallas," he said. "I’ll be coming to a good team that plays good soccer and played for a championship. I couldn’t be happier right now.”

With their second pick, FCD went with Louisville midfielder Charlie Campbell, another player the Dallas technical director and the coaching staff knew very well.

“He’s another one of these players that we liked,” Gorman said. “He’s coming out of a good program and can play that right back position or he can play that right midfield position. I know the coach well at Louisville, so I know he’s had some very good coaching there.”

And with their final pick, FCD took Scott Gordon, a defender out of Lynn University.

“Gordon is very athletic, strong. He’s fast and he’s going to be a player that we think can develop,” Gorman said.

“We’re still looking for a striker,” Gorman added. “These three picks give us added depth. This is pretty good.”

This year's draft marked Gorman’s first since being hired as the club’s technical director last spring. FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman missed the event because he was in Ohio after a death in the family earlier in the week.